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Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET i.-

1 :15 COLUMB'IA PuNbflRAPH Cm. WASHINGTON, n. C.

H. C. LOUDER.

ROD BENDING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 11, m9.

1,319,881 Patented. Oct. 28,1919.

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HUG. LOUDER.

no'n BENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE H, l9l9.

1,319,881. A 4 Patented O0t.28,1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY C. LOUDER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ROD-IBENDING- APPARATUS.

Application filed .Tune 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. LOUDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rod-Bending Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rod bending apparatus, and pertains particularly to devices for manually bending the steel rods used in reinforced concrete structures.

In using reinforcing steel rods, it is necessary that they be bent to certain shapes according to the specifications of the structure, and it frequently happens that the dimensions of some of the bends vary with each rod. It therefore becomes necessary to pro-.- vide a bending apparatus which can be readily and easily adjusted to accord with the re uired dimensions.

. object of the invention is to provide a device which will facilitate changes in the dimensions of the bends. In carrying this out, I provide a device which is adjustable horizontally in all directions. Another object of the invention is to provide a portable device which may be set up and used wherever required, and which is so simple that it obviates the necessity for skilled labor in its operation.

Other objects of the invention are to eliminate the use of clamps in bending rods, to

' provide a device all parts of which are readily accessible, and one upon which all sizes and weights of rods or bars may be bent.

In carrying out my invention I provide a plurality of supporting rails, usually three, comprising a pair of main rails and a supplemental rail, and upon the main rails are slidably mounted a series of similar interchangeable tables having fiat tops with openings therein at predetermined intervals to receive pins about which the steel is bent, the tables being locked in desired position upon the rails. The supplemental rail is used when it is desired to produce extreme lengths of bends. It is customary to have six bends in each rod, and I therefore pre-' fer to use six tables, one for each bend, though obviously if short bends are required two or more can be made on the same table. If, however, less than six bends are to be made in a rod, such for instance as three, three tables are used and the remainder are either pushed to the end of the rails or removed altogether. Since they are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

1919. Serial No. 303,330.

interchangeable it makes no difference which are used first, nor in what positions they are placed.

The required dimensions for the bends being ascertained from the specifications, they are marked ofi on the rods. The two central tables are rolled up on the rails into proper positions and locked. Two interchangeable pins are placed in appropriate holes in the table-tops adjacent to the marks on the rod. The operators slide a piece of seamless pipe on the end of the rod, and manually pull the pipe in the direction that the bend is to be made, the pins keeping the rod from movement, one of the pins acting as a fulcrum. The next table is rolled up and locked, and another set of interchangeable pins inserted in the appropriate holes therein according to the required length of the bend. The last bend is made in a similar manner, and at each bend the seamless pipe is slid away from the center of the rod toward the end thereof so as to clear the pins. I have found it expedient to have a set of operators work simultaneously on each end of the rod.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a series of tables with a bent rod in position thereon, and showing in dotted lines the position of the tables on the supplemental rail to accommodate extreme lengths of bends, and disclosing by dotted and full lines the position of such a rod on the table;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the tables;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the tables:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic end elevation of the main supporting rails and supplemental rail with a table in position thereon, and with a showing in dotted lines of a table on the supplemental rail;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of a beam and girder schedule for a reinforced concrete structure;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of one of the tables with one of the supports brokenaway to show the sliding engagement with the supporting rail;

Fig. 7 is a' fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of the table top;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of a table showing a rod being bent between two pins; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section through 1 one of the table supports showing its relation to the supporting rail.

The main rails 1, 1, are held in place by any suitable means, such as cross-ties (not shown), and have a series of transverse holes 2 at regular predetermined intervals throughout their lengths. The tables 3 comprise four pairs of crossed angle-irons 4, 4, riveted together and to vertical angleirons 5, 5. Upon the upper ends of the crossed angle-irons 4 are short angle-irons 6, upon which rest the lower plate 7. The upper plate 8 is rigidly fastened in position by means of the bolts 9, and is separated from the plate 7 by means of the collars 10 surrounding the bolts. Plates 7 and S are provided with registering openings 11 adapted to receive the interchangeable pins 12.

I have found that constructing the upper part Of the table in this manner eliminates a great deal of unnecessary weight, and results in a construction which is quite as strong as a solid top would be, and which prevents the pins from bending. In this connection it is pointed out that lightness is a desideratum when portability is being considered.

The vertical angle-irons 5 are of the same thickness as the rails 1, or perhaps a little heavier, and have semicircular recesses 13 cut in their lower ends. Guide-plates 14, 14c, are riveted to each side of the vertical angle-irons and carry rollers 15 which rest upon the upper surface of the rail 1. Transverse slots 16 are provided in the plates 14 and are adapted to register with the holes 2 in the supporting rails. Bolts 17 pass through the holes 16 and 2 in order to lock the table in the required position.

The supplemental rail 18 is similar to the others, and is parallel thereto. It is obvious that it will be easy to take out the pins 17 and raise any table up from the main rails, and move it transversely to rest upon the supplemental rail 18 and the adjacent main rail 1.

The rod is characterized by the numeral 19, and one of the central bends by w in Fig. 1.

The outer rows of holes 11 of each table are in line vertically with the opening 16 in the guide-plates 14 extending from the angle-irons 5, and it is thus quite easy to calculate the distances to be maintained between the tables. In practice, it is found expedient to have the center of the bend in a line through the outer rows of holes of the given table. The holes 2 in the rails are placed at predetermined positions, and form an accurate means for the proper positioning of the tables. In this connection, however, it will be apparent that I might use a scale on the rails and on the table tops as well to facilitate the positioning of the tables and the pins, and, although it has not been shown, the scale for the rails might readily start at zero in the centers and progress toward the end.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the distance between the two central bonds is indicated by (Z, and on the schedule this is given in linear measure. The relative positions of the two central tables are found by a simple calculation, and they are locked by pins 17, or by any other suitable means. By adding dimensions a, Z), c, (Fig. 5) the distance from the end of the rod to the central bend w of Fig. 1 can be readily ascertained. The rod is marked at this point. A pin 12, serving as a fulcruming point, is inserted in the hole adjacent to this mark, and an additional pin is inserted on the opposite side of the rod, and several holes back from the bend to prevent the rod from buckling and to insure an angular bend. The mark at m is the only one that it is necessary to place upon the rod, as the location of the other central bend is known from the location of the tables in the first instance, and this central bend is made in a similar manner. From this point, a set of operators work on each end of a rod. Dimension 6 being known, the next table is rolled up into its proper position and locked, a pin is inserted in the appropriate hole in this table for the next bend (the location of the pin being found by dimension it), and if desirable an additional pin is inserted in this table adjacent the rod to prevent its buckling and to insure an an gular bend. In this same manner the next bend is made.

If. dimension 0, for instance, is extreme so that it cannot be accommodated by using the tables on the main rails, the proper table is simply moved over on to the supplemental rail, and the same procedure followed as before.

It will be seen that by the arrangement of my device I provide for an adjustment of the tables longitudinally of the main rails, and also laterally from the main rails to the supplemental rail; and, further, that owing to the position of the holes in the top plate, an adjustment can be made in any direction on a table top to secure the correct fulcrum point for the rod.

It will further be seen that my apparatus is extremely simple, requires no especial tool with which to bend the bar, and can be readily transported and used where desired.

It is obvious that many changes might be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to he limited to the precise form disclosed.

I claim:

1. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of supporting rails and a plurality of interchangeable bending tables mounted.v

thereon.

2. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of supporting rails and a plurality of interchangeable bending tables mounted thereon and movable with respect to each other and to said rails.

3. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of supporting rails, bending tables normally supported on some of said rails and shiftable to other of said rails for accommodating extreme lengths of bends.

4. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of supporting rails, and a plurality of bending tables normally mounted thereon, and a supplemental rail adapted to cooperate with one of said first mentioned rails to support a table for accommodating extreme lengths of bends.

5. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of supporting rails, interchangeable bending tables normally supported on some of said rails and shiftable to other of said rails for accommodating extreme lengths of bends.

6-. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of rails, securing means at predetermined intervals on said rails, tables on said rails, and bending means on said tables, each of said tables being movable with respect to each other and to said rails, said bending means having a predetermined known relation to the securing means on said rails for facilitating the proper positioning of the tables relative to each other and the estimation of the lengths of the bends.

7. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of rails, securing means at predetermined intervals on said rails, interchangeable tables on said rails, and bending means on said tables, said bending means having a predetermined known relation to the securing means on said rails for facilitating normally supported on some of said rails and shiftable to other of said rails for accommodating extreme lengths of bends, said bending means having a known predetermined relation to the securing means on said rails for facilitating the proper positioning of the tables relative to each other and the estimation of the lengths of the bends.

9. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of rails, a plurality of tables mounted thereon, bending means on the tables, the rails having openings therein at predetermined intervals, anti-friction means between the tables and the rails, guiding means on said tables adjacent the rails having transverse openings, and means adapted to pass through the openings in said guiding means and said rails to lock the tables in a predetermined position.

10. The combination with a pair of main rails, of a plurality of bending tables normally mounted thereon, a supplemental supporting rail parallel with said main rails and adapted to support one end of a table for accommodating extreme lengths of bends, said tables being movable with respect to the rails and to each other, and means for securing the tables to the rails.

11. A bending apparatus comprising a plurality of supporting rails and a series of bending tables mounted thereon, each of said tables being movable with respect to each other and to said rails.

.In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY G. LOUDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtom'l). G. 

